Contact maker and interrupter.



W. C. BRINT ON, JR.

CONTACT MAKER AND INTERRUPTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24.1915.

1,234,275. Patented July 24, 191?.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

-WILLIAM G. BRINTON, JR., OF KENNE'I'T SQUARE, RENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 PHILIPS-BBINTON COMPANY, OF KENNETT SQUARE, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTACT MAKER AND INTERRUPTER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, WILLIAM C. BRINTON, Jr., a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Kennett Square, county of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Contact Makers and Interrupters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

. The object of my invention is to provide an improved means for opening and closing the primary circuit in a single sparkignition system for gas-driven automobiles. In

such a system it is necessary that the circuit should be closed only momentarily in order to avoid a quick jump in amperage. It is also necessary that the contact should be made with certainty, whatever the number. of cylinders contained in the engine, at maximum, minimum and all intermediate speeds, and under all, the varying conditions arising in actual use.

More specifically, the invention is an improvement upon the construction heretofore patented by me under date of February 23, 1915, No. 1,129,445 and No. 1,129,446, although the present invention contains certain features that do not necessarily embody the inventions of said patents.

-The causes of defective operation in devices of this character that experience discloses are various and not always determinable. Slight defects in manufacture, ordinary wear and tear, inevitable vibration, and vertical displacement of the timershaft due to the causes mentioned or to any other cause, frequently cause the timing of the device to vary to an extent that precludes proper operation, Again, due sometimes to the foregoing causes, but more especially .to the great inertia of the arts, the mechanism between the timer-shaf t and the relatively stationary contact does not always return sufliciently' quickly, causing chattering and irregularity.

Again, it is very desirable to economize space and to mount the device upon as small a base as practicable, to which end compactness of construction is highly desirable.

My pr sent invention is designed to avoid Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24, 1917.

Application filed July 24, 1915. Serial No. 41,665.

these sources of trouble and imperfect operation and to attain the desirable results mentioned.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the contact device and immediately coacting parts; Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in section; Fig. 3 is a side view of the contact device; F igr4: is a detail view of one of the contacts.

The cam-shaft or timer-shaft a extends up through a base I) (which may be made hollow to afford a condenser chamber and carries a head a of insulating materlal to which is secured the distributer conductor plate d. A cap 6 of insulating material fits upon the base 6 and incloses the top of shaft (1, the head 0 and the contact device hereinafter described. The cap e carries the common terminal post 7 and the binding posts 1, 2, etc.; the secondary current being closed successively through the several binding posts as the shaft a revolves, in a manner well known in the art.

On the base 6, surrounding the shaft a, is a boss 4). Above the boss 1; and sleeved upon the shaft is a disk w having teeth or cams 9. Above the disk w and sleeved upon the shaft is a flanged collar :12. Projecting downward from the flange of the collar or is a pin m which enters a hole in the disk 'w. A radial screw y extends through collar :1? and is threaded in the shaft a. The head 0 has a vertical key-way 2. Thus, the collar :20 is fixed to shaft (1, the disk w is fixed to eollar w, and the head 0 is driven from colar :0. The teeth or cams 9 correspond, in number to the number of cylinders comprised in the engine.

Secured to the base 6 is a strip or plate 71' end in line of travel of the teeth gwhether the shaft be rotating in one direction or the other. The connecting member of head m is normally held againstone side of the lever m by the spring 12. which, at one end, is secured to a small projection in line with said connecting member, the other end of the spring being attached. to the contact plunger bar ;0 hereinafter described. Therefore, when the shaft a is turning in its normal forward direction, as indicated by the.

arrow in Fig. 1, it actuates the head m and lever is, against the tension of spring at, as if theywere one piece, thereby swinging lever is on its axis; while if the shaft a be turned backward, the head m is swung in the opposite direction on its own axis, against the tension of spring 1, without imparting any movement to lever it;

At the end of the plate It opposite that near which lever Ir; is pivoted is a rigid yoke 0 through which slides the plunger p. The front end of this plunger is bent up and provided with a contact nose 1) in the direction of extension, or of the sliding movement, of the plunger. end of the contact plunger is cut away to afiord a shoulder p opposite which normally extends the'end of lever is more distant from the shaft (1.

Immediately beyond the nose 7) of the plunger p is the end of a contactpin 1'.

This pin has a shoulder which closes the open end of an adjustable holder 8 having a head 8. Between the head 8 and the shoulder, the pin 1" is of relatively small diameter and is surrounded by a coil spring 25, which normally holds the contact end of the pin at a definite distance from the nose of the plunger ;0. The holder 8 is threaded in a bracket u projecting from a block M, which is of insulating material, or is insulated from the base I). The washer 1" on the outer end of pin 1', limits the movement of the pin in the direction of the plunger p.

The apparatus is wired so that, the current from the battery passes to the contact device shown in Fig. 4, thence to the plunger contact p andthence through the base 6 and back to the battery.

The single spring at is arranged to'perform a'variety of functions. It holds the upturned end of contact plunger p against the yoke 0, which thus acts as a stop. It

.holds the plunger ;0 against its front and rear guides, one upright arm of the yoke o acting as a front guide and the edge of the vertically extending part of the flange 2' acting as a rear guide. It holds. the tripper lever against the vertically extending part of flange i, which acts as a stop. It

holds the pivoted head m-against the tripper lever k. During the swinging move- 'ment of the tripperlever, in its actuation by one of the teeth 9, after said -lever con- .tacts with and slides the plunger p, the

The opposite "increases the pressure of plunger ;0 against its front and rear guides. When the tripper lever has overridden the plunger 1), the spring draws back the plunger at a maximum speed due to the increased tension on the spring, thereby insuring accurate contact and a clean, quick break. When a tooth g has overridden the head m1 of the tripper lever, the spring, under further increased tension, returns the tripper lever against its stop and displaces the plunger ;0 laterally. Finally, in case of reverse rotation of the shaft a, it returns the head m of the tripper lever to normal position.

From the foregoing description, the operation of the device will be readily understood. When a tooth g strikes the head m of the tripper lever is, it first swings the tripper lever against the shoulder onthe contact plunger p, then, by a sliding movement along said shoulder, pushes the plunger p longitudinally until its contact nose p impinges against, and slightly moves, the contact pin 1". Immediately thereafter the end of the tripper lever 7:: slides off the shoulder on plunger p and the spring areturns the plunger, immediately after which the tooth 9 slides off the head on and the spring at returns the tripper lever is, the plunger ;0 swinging. laterally to allow the tripper lever to return.

It is ObVlOllS that the contact pin 1' may be adjusted to regulate its extent of moveof the main structural features whereby this is accomplished is provision for sliding, instead of swinging, the contact bar 1) against the contact pin 1', which, when so engaged,

itself slides in the direction of its axis.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. Acontact maker and interrupter comprising a contact, a cooperating contact member having a differential movement and adapted in one movement to directly engage the contact and in another movement to move relatively to the contact without engaging the same, a shaft, actuating means adapted in its movement in opposite directions to engage the contact member and impart to it one or the other of its movement dependent upon the direction of movement of said actuating means, and a shaft controlling the operation of said actuating means, said contact and contact member forming the termini of an electric circuit Which is momentarily closed by their enferential movement and adapted in one 7 direction movement to directly engage the contact and in another movement to move relatively to the contact without engaging the same, a

shaft, actuating means adapted in its movement in opposite directions to engage the contact member and impart to it one or the other of its movements dependent upon'the of movement of said actuating means, and a shaft controlling the operation of said actuating means, said contact and contact member forming the termini of an electric circuit which is momentarily closed y their engagementas specified.

3. A contact maker and interrupter comprising a contact, a slidable and swingable contact member adapted in its sliding move ment to directly and momentarily engage the contact and inits swinging movement to move relatively to the contact Without engaging the same, actuating means adapted impart to the contact member its sliding and swing ng movements respectively, and

a shaft controlling the operation of said actuating'means, said contact and contact member forming-the termini of an electric circuit which is momentarily closed by their engagement as specified. v

4. A contact maker-and interrupter comprising a contact slidable in a right line respective movements, and-a shaft controlling the operation of the actuating means, said contact and contact member formlng the termini of an electric circuit which is momentarilyclosed by their engagement as .specified.

5. A contact maker and-interrupter com prising acontact, a slidable and swingable contact member adapted in its sliding movement to directly and momentarily engage the contact and in its swinging movement to move relativel; to the contact without engaging the same, actuating means adapted in its movement in opposite directions to impart to the contact member its sliding and swinging adapted position to return the contact bar to normal when slid or swung away therefrom, and a shaft controlling the operation of said actuating means, said contact and in its movementin opposite directions to said contact termini of an electric movements respectively, a spring contact member forming the termini of an electrig circuit which is moment'arily closed by their engagement as specified.

6. A contact maker and interrupter comprising a contact movable in'one direction, a cooperating contact member movable longitudinally in the same direction and also having a swinging movement, actuating means adapted in its movement in one direction to engage said contact member and slide it longitudinally and thereby cause it to engage and move said contact and in its movement in the other direction to swing said contact member, a spring adapted, in

said movement of saidcontact, to be com- "a cooperating contact member movable longitudinally in the same direction and also having a swinging movement, actuating means adapted in its movement in one direction to engage said .contact member and slide it longitudinally and thereby cause it to engage and move said contact andin its movement in the other direction to swing said contact member, a spring adapted, in said movement of said contact, to be compressed and'to return said contact to normal position after the retraction of the con-,'

tact'member, a spring adapted to so retract member, and a shaft controlling the operation of said actuating means, said contact and contact member forming the circuit which is momentarily closed by their engagement as specified. i

8. A contact maker and interrupter comprising a contact forming one terminal of the circuit, a slidable contact member formin another terminal of the circuit, a rota-, ta le member, and a pivoted lever adapted to be actuated thereby to slide the contact member into direct and momentary engagement with said contact.

9. A contact maker and interrupter comprising a slidable contact forming one terminal of the circuit, a contact member forming another terminal of the circuit, a rotatable member, and a pivoted lever adapted to be actuated thereby to engage a rear end portion of-saidcontact member and push it bodily into engagement with said contact.

10. A contact maker and interrupter comprising a spring pressed contact pin adapted to yield in the direction of its axis, a springretractable contact member adapted to move bodily toward said pin in a direction substantially parallel to the latters axis and thereby close the circuit, a rotatable member, and a pivoted lever adapted to be actuated thereby to impart said bodily movement to the contact member,

11. A contact maker and interrupter comprising a contact forming one terminal of a circuit, a contact plunger forming the other terminal of'the circuit and slidable in the direction of its length toward the first contact, a rotatable member, and a pivoted lever adapted to be actuated thereby to engage and move said plunger longitudinally and thereby close the circuit through said contacts.

12. A contact maker and interrupter comprising a contact forming one terminal of the circuit, a sliding contact member, a rotatable member, and a pivoted lever one end of which is operable by the rotatable member and the other end of which is adapted to push the sliding contact member into circuit-closing engagement with said contact, the axes on Which said rotatable member turns and said'lever swings being parallel.

- 13. A contact maker and interrupter comprising a contact forming one terminal of the circuit, a movable contact member, a

lever adapted to move the contact member 1nto circuit-closing engagement with saidcontact, a rotatable member, adapted to actuate the lever, and a single retracting spring one end of which is connected with the lever and the other end of which is connected with the contact member. v

14 A contact-maker and interrupter comprising a contact forming one terminal of the circuit, a slidable contact plunger and guides therefor, a lever adapted to push the plunger into circuit-closing engagement with said contact, a rotatable member adapted to actuate the lever, and a single retracting spring connecting the lever and plunger and adapted to return them to normal position and hold the plunger against its guides 15. A contact maker and interrupter comprising a contact forming one terminal of the circuit, a contact plunger slidable in the direction of its length, guides for the lunger, said plunger being also displaceable aterally, a lever adapted in its advance movement to push the plunger into circuitclosing position and on its return movement to displace the plunger laterally, a rotatable member adapted to actuate the plunger, and a single retracting spring conne ting the lever and plunger and adapted to hold the 1 plunger against its guides in its forward movement and return the plunger and lever to their normal positions.

16. A contact maker and interrupter comprising a contact forming one terminal of the circuit, a contact plunger cut away at its rear to form a shoulder and tail piece,

guides engaging the front of the plunger naeaava and said tail piece, .a lever adapted in its forward movement to engage said shoulder and push the plunger into circuit-closing po- I sition, a rotatable member adapted to so actuate the lever, and tension means to return the plunger and lever.

17 A contact maker and interrupter com-- forming one terminal of movement to engage.

rection to move the leverwith it and when actuated in the other direction to swing freely on the lever, a rotatable member adapted to actuate said head in opposite directions, and tension means to return the parts to normal position after actuation by the rotatable member. 7

18 A contact maker and interrupter comprising a contact forming one terminal of the circuit, a sliding contact plunger, a lever adapted in its advance movement to engage and slide the plunger, a head pivoted on the lever and adapted when actuated in one direction to move the lever with it and when actuated in the other direction to swing freely on the lever, adapted to actuate said head in opposite directions, and a spring connecting said head and plunger. I

19 A contact maker and interrupter comprising a contact forming one terminal of the circuit, a sliding contact plunger, a guide and stop at the front of the plunger, the rear of the plunger being cut away to form atail-piece and shoulder, a guide and sto for said tail-piece, the rear'of the ringer eing also laterally displaceable, a heal-crank lever one arm ofwhich movement of the lever, to engage said shoulder and slide theplunger into engagement withsaid contact, a stop for said lever, a head pivoted on the other armof the lever and adapted when actuated in one direction to advance the lever. and when actuated in the other direction to swing freely on the lever, a rotatable member adapted to actuate said head in opposite directions, and a spring attached at opposite ends to the plunger and head and adapted to return and normally hold the plunger, lever and head in their normal inoperative positions.

20. A contact maker and interrupter comprising a horizontal base, an upright shaft extending therethrough, a cam disk sleeved on the shaft, a collar on the shaft and pinned to the disk, means securing the collar to the shaft, and primary circuit interruptisig mechanism mounted on said base and operable from the cam disk.

21. A contact maker prising a horizontal base, an upright shaft extending therethrough, an annular boss above the base and surrounding the shaft, a

a rotatable member is adapted, in the advanceand interrupter com- 7 cam disk sleeved on the shaft and resting on said boss, a collar on the shaft and resting on and pinned to the disk, means securing the collar 5 interrupting mechanism mounted on said base and operable from the cam disk.

22. A contact maker and interrupter comprising a horizontal base, extending therethrough, a

Correction in Letters Patent No; 1,234,275.

on the shaft, a collar on the shaft and pinned to the disk, a set screw fixing the collar to the shaft, and a secondary circuit distributer cap sleeved on the shaft and having a vertical key way engaging said screw In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, on this 22nd day of July, 1915.

WILLIAM C. BRINTON, JR.

to the shaft, and primary circuit an upright shaft cam disk sleeved of Kennett Square, Pennsylva- Contact Makers and Interrupters, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows Page 2 n I line 123, claim 1, and page 3, lines 1112,

said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 14th day of August, A. D., 1917.

[SEAL] R. F. WHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner 0 P t Cl. 123l68. a ems.

claim 2, strike out the words a shaf and that the 

